Meet the call centre operative and eco-warrior merman who poses on the beach with his tail on display in a bid to inspire people to protect the world’s oceans.

Pictures show training supervisor, 38-year-old Rey Julien Teves, gracefully gliding through the crystal blue waters using his homemade tail, while in another image, he poses on a rock, just like the main protagonist, Ariel, in The Little Mermaid.

In other photos, Rey is seen posing on a swing on a beach, and lying back on the sand while looking into the ocean.

(Picture: Rey Julien Teves / mediadrumworld.com)

Rey, who is from Cebu, Phillippines, said he was first fascinated by mermaids while on holiday last year, when he took mermaid lessons.

Afterwards his stunning portraits really took off.

He said: ‘It’s a hobby and it interests me. It started when I went on vacation last year and took mermaid lessons. My pictures from that got a lot of compliments and it kind of grew from there.

(Picture: Rey Julien Teves / mediadrumworld.com)

‘I just made my tail. The rest of my look is natural. Most of my look is my own personal labour; like making the tail.

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‘People take pictures and compliment me, so I’ve had no bad experiences as of now.’

(Picture: Rey Julien Teves / mediadrumworld.com)

The mermaid community has been around since the late 19th century, when an Australian professional swimmer, Anette Marie Sarah Kellerman, was one of the first women to wear a one-piece bathing costume and inspired others to do the same.

Rey’s main ambition through this is to push for environment protection.

(Picture: Rey Julien Teves / mediadrumworld.com)

‘It represents my love for the ocean and wanting to protect it at all costs. I also love the support and kindness of the ‘mercommunity’ and how creativity is embraced,’ Rey said.

He continued: ‘Protect our oceans by changing bad habits when you’re at the beach; pick up plastic when u can and support local beach clean-ups.

(Picture: Rey Julien Teves / mediadrumworld.com)

‘Whenever we are at the beach or in any body of water really, I make sure we leave nothing behind that could damage the environment or harm the animals.